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$125,000 Emerald Nikki’s Sandcastle In the $125,000 Emerald at 1 1/16 miles on the lawn for horses that had started for $25,000 or less, Richard Sherman’s homebred Nikki’s Sandcastle kept the Ramseys and Maker from visiting the winner’s circle as the gritty gelding held off Major Marvel to prevail by a head. Trained by David Kassen and ridden by Corey Lanerie, the son of Castledale (Ire) clocked the distance in 1:43.13 and returned $6.80 as the second betting choice. Many of the Claiming Crown starters had changed hands several times via the claim box during their careers, but Nikki’s Sandcastle has run for his breeder since debuting in a maiden claiming race at Oaklawn Park in February 2010. While the gelding was a capable sprinter on the main track, he did not develop into a stakes-caliber horse until moving to the grass and synthetic surfaces. Nikki’s Sandcastle could have been had for $25,000 in July 2011 at Arlington Park, and since then the gelding has won six races, including two black-type stakes. Prior to the Emerald, the now 6-year-old gelding had finished second three straight times in six-figure stakes, one on the main track at Remington Park, another on the turf at Hawthorne Race Course and the third in the $150,000 Fayette Stakes (G2) on Keeneland Race Course’s Polytrack.
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“It’s been a little frustrating to see him finish second the last three times, but this makes up for it,” said Kassen. “He runs hard every time and on any surface—dirt, turf, Polytrack—although I think he’s a little better on turf. “I didn’t have him when he began his career,” added the trainer. “He came to me here in December two years ago. He had a chip in his knee. We didn’t have it removed (surgically) but healed it using a magnetic boot. He doesn’t have any conditions, so we’ll just look for the right stakes to run him in next.” That next spot turned out to be the $75,000 El Prado Stakes on December 22 at Gulfstream, and Nikki’s Sandcastle came through with a driving victory. All told, the gelding has won eight times in 31 starts with a bankroll of $391,567. The Ramseys’ Major Marvel, winner of a $100,000 stakes earlier in the year at Mountaineer Racetrack, looked like a winner under Javier Castellano but just could not get by Nikki’s Sandcastle. Mr. Amore Stable’s Exclusive Strike, conditioned by Jason Servis, beat out Grade 1 winner and betting favorite King David in a photo for third. Diamondsdiplomat, El Romano, Bingo Bango Bongo, Tom Kitten, The Best Glacier, King Kressa, Katrina’s Prince and Livingston Street completed the order of finish.